Industrial buildings meant for manufacturing purposes typically utilise piping systems to carry out a wide range of processes. Generally, these systems are meant to convey fluids and other elements from one place to another. This process makes them useful in manufacturing various materials like aluminium, glass, copper, concrete, fibreglass, timber, and others.

Piping systems can also be useful in other types of industrial buildings. Some of these buildings include chemical plants, power plants, and oil refinery plants. Even commercial buildings take advantage of these systems to transport clean water, wastewater, and others.

The effectiveness of piping systems is brought by their main components. One of the components these systems utilise is gaskets.

General Purposes of Gaskets

Gaskets can be found in almost all piping systems as they can help prevent leakages, which are often the primary source of issues in commercial and industrial applications. With the presence of gaskets, the joints in piping systems can be sealed optimally, preventing leakages and all issues associated with them. Installing these components can then improve the efficiency of these systems and reduce their maintenance costs.

Another purpose of gaskets in piping systems is they can deter corrosion from ruining their overall quality. Gaskets are often made from materials that can withstand elements that cause corrosion. As they are installed in piping systems, they can effectively reduce cases of accidents and leaks on commercial and industrial properties, making them safe. Their corrosion resistance can even protect people from safety and health risks.

Ultimately, gaskets in piping systems allow them to withstand changes brought by movement or the environment. They can even reduce the effects of noise and sound on the piping systems.

Most Common Gasket Types

Various types of gaskets can be incorporated into the piping systems to make them effective. These types are as follows.

• Non-Metallic Gaskets: Non-metallic gaskets, also known as soft gaskets, are often made from materials like rubber, Teflon, graphite, PTFE, and CNAF. These gaskets are characterised by their ease of compression with low-tension bolting. They are likewise utilised with low-pressure class flanges. One pro of these gaskets is they are cheap, making them the best choice for industries that want to save some resources.

• Metal Gaskets: Metal gaskets are gaskets produced out of low-carbon steel, soft iron, stainless steel, and other similar materials. These gaskets are likewise identified as ring gaskets or RTJ gaskets. One characteristic of metal gaskets is they are utilised in high-pressure class flanges. They can likewise work effectively once high-tension bolting has been implemented. Industries use these gaskets since they are very robust. They can be, however, more expensive than the non-metallic ones.

• Composite Gaskets: Composite gaskets are gaskets that combine metal and non-metal materials. Some of the most popular composite gaskets today are spiral wounds, metal jacketed, and grooved gaskets. These gaskets are highly effective in applications that involve a wide range of pressure and temperature. They can be cost-effective. However, they require careful handling to ensure their longevity. Composite gaskets are paired on raised faces, male-female, and tongue-and-groove flanges.

Gaskets are among the most utilised components in assembling machines, tools, and others. They are often used by industries since they can seal gaps between surfaces. They can also accommodate flange irregularities that may be present on the things they will apply to.

Many materials can be used to produce gaskets. Natural rubber, for instance, is utilised for gaskets since it is resistant to water, shock, and vibration. It can also work effectively with metal surfaces, making natural rubber gaskets excellent for water pumps and pipes. Silicone rubber is another material that can be used for gaskets. Silicone rubber gaskets are flexible and weather resistant. They can also perform effectively at extreme temperatures, making them suitable for pharmaceutical and food processing applications.

Some more materials often maximised for producing gaskets are neoprene rubber and cork. But one material that can be useful in specific applications and projects is vulcanised fibre. 

Properties of Vulcanised Fibre

Vulcanised fibre is a material that combines heat-treated fibrous materials and additives to generate a hard rubber. This material is said to be one of the first plastics to be developed by industries. And even after decades of using vulcanised fibre, it is still utilised by many for sealing hardware such as washers and gaskets. 

Many fibres can be integrated into the vulcanised fibre. These fibres include wood pulp, cotton, paper, and many more materials. The integration of these things helps vulcanised fibre attain added strength and toughness without compromising flexibility. 

As mentioned earlier, vulcanised fibres also take advantage of chemical additives. Once the fibres used for this material are exposed to chemical additives, the former intends to dissolve until they generate a slurry. The slurry will then be compressed by a press or a roll at high temperatures, establishing a solid bond between the materials without chemical agents. The resulting vulcanised fibre can be further shaped through forming, cutting, punching, turning, milling, sawing, and shearing. 

Vulcanised Fibre Key Benefits

Vulcanised fibre gaskets can provide tons of benefits for industries that will be using them. If your business will be maximising these gaskets, you can expect to gain the following benefits.

To obtain vulcanised fibre gaskets, feel free to contact us at Gasketech.